The incident occurred in Teryath village in the Poni area, where the bus, filled with devotees, was attacked, according to initial reports from local authorities.
The terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus, enroute to Katra, veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge. The incident took place around 6.15 pm.
In response to the emergency, a rescue operation was promptly initiated, with reinforcements from the police, army, and paramilitary forces rushing to the scene. The combined efforts aim to assist survivors and recover the injured from the difficult terrain.
Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack. “The cowardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely saddening,” Gandhi wrote in Hindi on X. “This shameful incident is the true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The entire country stands united against terrorism,” he added.
Authorities are working to gather more information about the attack and the current status of those on the bus.
The attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the region. Reasi district has been relatively untouched by terrorist activities compared to neighbouring areas such as Rajouri and Poonch.
(With inputs from agencies)
